How much protein does a person need each day?
Protein needs vary by person depending upon age, weight, sex, activity level and overall health. Athletes and individuals with special medical needs often need more protein than the recommended dietary allowance, or RDA. It is best to speak with your health professional. There are, however, three formulas that are commonly used: #1) The minimum is usually .9 gm for every kilogram of lean body mass (total weight minus fat). A kilogram is 2.2 pounds. A 200 pound man, 25 % fat, would have a lean body mass of 150 pounds. Divided by 2.2 lbs, his lean body weight in kilogram is 68.2 kg. When multiplied by .9 we arrive at a minimum protein requirement of 61 gm. #2) To ensure that the body is in a positive muscle building state, in other words, that it is burning fat–not muscle, you should ingest at least .9 grams of protein per lean pound of body weigh (fat free body weight). For example, a 200 lb. man with 12% body fat requires 158 grams of protein daily. 200 X .12 = 24 lbs > 200 – 24 = 176
